BE400 captain reports failure of fuel pumps in the fuselage to shut off when the tank is empty. The ...

Attributes
ACN	1075300
Time
Date	201303
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.ARTCC
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Beechjet 400
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Climb
Component
Aircraft Component	Fuel Booster Pump
Person 1
Function	Pilot Not Flying Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical

Narrative:

Approaching assigned altitude of FL270; both fuel xfr level lo annunciators began to cycle erratically. Verified switches were in correct position (automatic); and fuselage tank was almost empty. At this point both lights stayed on. Since operating these pumps without fuel present creates a rapid; high-heat situation; we did a control transfer; declared an emergency and diverted. We executed the appropriate abnormal checklist; which successfully secured the transfer pumps via pulled circuit breaker's; and landed uneventfully. Appropriate transfer pump checklist item was successfully completed during preflight. Fuel transfer pumps failed to shut off after fuselage tank empty.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BE400 Captain reports failure of fuel pumps in the fuselage to shut off when the tank is empty. The abnormal checklist is consulted and the pumps are secured via pulled circuit breakers. The flight diverts to a suitable airport.

Narrative: Approaching assigned altitude of FL270; both FUEL XFR LEVEL LO annunciators began to cycle erratically. Verified switches were in correct position (AUTO); and fuselage tank was almost empty. At this point both lights stayed on. Since operating these pumps without fuel present creates a rapid; high-heat situation; we did a control transfer; declared an emergency and diverted. We executed the appropriate abnormal checklist; which successfully secured the transfer pumps via pulled CB's; and landed uneventfully. Appropriate transfer pump checklist item was successfully completed during preflight. Fuel transfer pumps failed to shut off after fuselage tank empty.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

BE400 captain reports failure of fuel pumps in the fuselage to shut off when the tank is empty. The abnormal checklist is consulted and the pumps are secured via pulled circuit breakers. The flight diverts to a suitable airport.